Decorative name card holder

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a small vase that serves as a static name card holder. The vase is lightweight, reusable, and can be removably attached to the edge of a drinking glass, wine glass, or similar utensil. Used in this manner, the current invention will tastefully and attractively, in a floral setting, display the names of people seated around a table.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed toward a name car holder that can beattached to the upper edge of a drinking glass or similar thin-edgeditem. The current invention is further capable of supportingnarrow-stemmed items, particularly flowers, for display.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of stationary name cardholders, particularly for static display. The invention further relatesto floral display items, and to holders with tabs for attachment tolarger items, particularly to the edges of drinking vessels.

2. Description of Related Art

Static and portable name card holders are well known in the prior art.An example is described by Hickman, Sr. in U.S. Design Pat. No. 314,015,which teaches a clip-on plastic holder for name tags.

Name tag and card holders that additionally support or attach to stemmedflowers or the like are less prevalent. Wasilko describes an uprightbottom display holder capable of holding a multitude of cards and havinga top portion insertable into a center sleeve and capable of holdingflower stems. Carroll shows a stand with a base that holds a card and asleeve for a vial that can hold a flower stem. Slavik describes a holderfor greeting cards with an attachment device for connecting the holderto one or more flowers.

Prior art card holders do not combine the function of presenting a cardand a flower arrangement as an integral part of a table setting. Such afunction would be useful because there would be fewer items to set ontothe table, yet each table setting could have an individual place holderand flower arrangement. Individual arrangements and cards could also bedelivered to a table while attached to a beverage class, reducing thenumber of separate items to be carried to the table.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is comprised of a receptacle having an attachmenttab for placement over the rim of a beverage glass or other thin-walleditem, having integrally attached slot holder tabs for cards, and havinga separate insertable mesh grid that may optionally be set into thecenter of the receptacle for holding a flower arrangement or other itemswith thin stems. The receptacle and mesh grid are comprised of moldedplastic, which may be of any color, and which are formed in the shape ofa multi-petal flower.

An object of the present invention is to provide a card and flowerholder that can be placed on the rim of a beverage glass as part of atable setting.

Another object of the present invention is to reduce the number ofseparate items carried to and placed on a table, yet providing forseparate individual place arrangements for each table setting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 Perspective view of the present invention in use

FIG. 2 Perspective view of the present invention showing the insertiongrid

FIG. 3 Top view of the present invention

FIG. 4 Side view of the present invention showing the over-rimattachment tab

FIG. 5 Top view of the insertion grid for the present invention

FIG. 6 Side view of the insertion grid for the present invention

FIG. 7 Perspective view of the insertion grid for the present invention

FIG. 8 Top view of the present invention showing detail of cutaway views

FIG. 9 Detail cutaway view for Section A-A of the present invention

FIG. 10 Detail cutaway view for Section B-B of the present invention

FIG. 11 Detail cutaway view for Section C-C of the present invention

FIG. 12 Side view of present invention showing over-rim attachment tab

FIG. 13 Detail of over-rim attachment tab of the present invention

FIG. 14 Side view of present invention showing frontal view of over-rimattachment tab

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a representative illustration of a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention in use. The invention is shown with the receptaclebeing attached over the rim of a beverage glass by means of the over-rimattachment tab (10) and with a name card inserted into the two sets ofcard holder tabs (20). One or more flowers may be placed in thereceptacle for display. The wine glass is shown in shade and is not apart of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the preferred embodiment of the present inventionis shown in perspective view from the side closest to the name placecard holder tabs (20). In this representation, the petals (30, 50)around the rim of flower receptacle can be seen clearly. The shapes ofthe petals shown are for illustration purposes only. A multitude ofpetal shapes can be made. The entire receptacle is made of moldedplastic in any of a multitude of colors. Two sets of name place cardholder tabs are attached on one side of the top rim (20). Each set is apair of tabs closely spaced to admit the width of a name card. Anoptional plastic mesh grid (40) may be inserted into the center of thereceptacle, resting approximately midway into the cone-shaped receptacle(15).

In FIG. 3, the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shownfrom a top view. At the center, the plastic mesh grid (40) can be seenset approximately midway into the neck of the receptacle (15).Thin-stemmed items, such as flowers, can be inserted into the receptaclethrough the mesh grid in order to create an upright display. Thereceptacle is rimmed by petals (30, 50) made as an integral part of themolded plastic receptacle. The petal tips (31, 51) bend slightlydownward, represented by the line at the tip of each petal. The petalconfiguration is illustrative only, as a multitude of petal shapes arepossible. Two sets of name place card holder tabs (20) are attached atone side of the petal rim. The placement of these holder tabs isspecifically determined so that the channels of each holder are linearto each other and so that the holder tabs are set sufficiently close toeach other as to hold upright a card having a length of 0.75 inches at aminimum.

FIG. 4 shows the preferred embodiment of the present invention from itsside whereon the over-rim attachment tab (10) is seen from the side.From this view, the receptacle can be seen to consist of a cone-shapedbase (1) with a rim of petals (30, 50) that bend slightly downward atthe tips (31, 51). The petals and base are comprised of an integralpiece of molded plastic.

FIGS. 5 through 7 show various aspects of the optional plastic mesh grid(40) that may be set into the receptacle base. In FIG. 5, the plasticmesh grid is shown from a top view. This grid is comprised of a circularshape so that it will fit into the cone base of the receptacle. Thediameter of the circular shape is determined by the size of the cone,such that the mesh grid can be inserted only midway into the cone, thusleaving space in the cone center below it. The preferable size of themesh grid is approximately 0.4 inches in diameter. The mesh grid is cutfrom a pre-fabricated plastic mesh sheet comprised of squares, and thuswhen the circular shape is cut out, the circular shape contains fivesquare holes while the squares on each corner are sliced in half (41).The result is a cross-shaped grid having arcing cross ends (42). In itspreferable form, the square holes of the mesh grid (43) have four equalsides that are approximately 0.075 inches in length. The solid plasticmesh (44) is preferably approximately 0.06 inches in width.

FIG. 6 is a cut-away side view of the plastic mesh grid showing thesquare hole (43) at the center of two solid mesh sections (44). Fromthis view, the plastic mesh grid can be seen in its preferable thicknessto be approximately 0.06 inches.

FIG. 7 illustrates the plastic mesh grid insert of the present inventionfrom a perspective view. The plastic mesh insert is shown with fivesquare holes (43), arcing cross ends (42), and four squares sliced inhalf (41).

Referring to FIG. 8, the preferred embodiment of the present inventionis again shown from a top view. However, this figure shows the sectionsof the present invention that are displayed in the detailed views thatfollow in FIGS. 9 through 13. The detailed views illustrate the presentinvention from several aspects, which differ each from the other asfurther explained in the following description. It can also be seen fromthis top view that in this particular embodiment of the petals aroundthe rim of the receptacle, the tips of the petals create a circle.However, the larger petals (50) with flattened curves bend downward to alesser extent than do the thinner petals (30), creating a varietaleffect when viewed from a side or perspective angle, as will be apparentin the next figures. The plastic mesh grid has been removed from thecenter of the receptacle base for purposes of making the illustrationless complex. The name place card holder tabs (20) are attached to thepetal rim on one side of the receptacle so that the channels in theholder tabs (21) are linear for purposes of holding a name place cardupright when inserted into the holder tabs.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are cross sections of the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, taken from top through to bottom, ie longitudinally.FIG. 9 shows a cross section taken through thinner petals (30), near theover-rim attachment tab (10). Said tab is shown in cross section. Theconical angle of about 24° formed by the cone of the flower is clearlyseen.

FIG. 10 is also a cross section of the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, again longitudinally. This differs from FIG. 9 inthat the cut is taken through the centerline of broader petals (50), atabout a 45° angle counterclockwise from the cut of FIG. 9. In this case,the over-rim attachment tab (10) is hidden on the back side of theflower vase as shown.

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of a narrow section of the preferredembodiment of the present invention, from an angle which includes oneset of the name place card holder tabs (20).

FIG. 12 is a side plan view of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, from an angle which includes the over-rim attachment tab (10)on the left side of the vase. The invention is shown upright, in thesame position as is preferred during use.

FIG. 13 is a detailed view of the over-rim attachment tab (10).

FIG. 14 is a side plan view of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, from an angle which includes the over-rim attachment tab (10)directly in front of the vase. In this view, the invention is shownsideways.

Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein.It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may beembodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed hereinare not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for theclaims and as representative basis for teaching one skilled in the artto employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailedsystem, structure, or manner.

1. A holder for name cards, comprising: a small, lightweight, open-topcontainer, capable of containing water, wherein the container whenfilled with water is sufficiently light as to be stably supportably onthe upper edge of a drinking glass; means for attaching said containerto said edge of said drinking glass in a stable, upright position; meansfor stably holding a card in an upright position on said container;wherein said holding means comprise at least one downwardly extendingmember forming a hanging means to hang said container over said upperedge of a drinking glass.
 2. The holder of claim 1, wherein said meansfor attachment are comprised of a tab fixedly attached to a side of saidholder, and extending outward and down in the shape of an inverted J. 3.The holder of claim 2, wherein said tab is permanently attached to theoutside of said holder, and is capable of removably supporting saidholder by means of stably resting astride the edge of a thin-walleditem.
 4. The holder of claim 1, wherein said means for stably holding acard are comprised of a plurality of tabs arising vertically from thetop surface of said holder.
 5. The holder of claim 1, wherein saiddrinking glass is a wine goblet.
 6. The holder of claim 1, wherein saidholder is constructed in the shape of a flower, with the top surfacecurving horizontally outward in the manner of petals of a flower.
 7. Theholder of claim 1, wherein said holder is capable of containing waterwithout leakage.
 8. The holder of claim 1, additionally comprising asubstantially circular grid capable of residing in a stable horizontalposition within the neck of said container.
 9. The holder of claim 8,wherein said grid is capable of supporting one or more flowers or flowerbuds via insertion of the stems of said flowers or buds into said grid.10. The holder of claim 1, comprised of plastic.
 11. (canceled) 12.(canceled)
 13. (canceled)
 14. (canceled)
 15. (canceled)
 16. (canceled)17. (canceled)
 18. (canceled)
 19. (canceled)
 20. (canceled)